Combined valve lifter and spring compressor



- 1934-. J. SUNNEN COMBINED VALVE LIFTER AND SPRING COMPRESSOR Filed May 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /A/ Vii/V709:

Jase/w. \SUIVIVEM 227 4 A TTOPA/EK Dec. 4, 1934.

J. SUNNEN COMBINED VALVE LIFTER AND SPRING COMPRESSOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1953 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 'Ir T ED STATES PATENT OFFICE "COMBINED VALVE LIFTER AND SPRING COMPRESSOR joseph Sunnen, Kirkwood, vMo. Application May '15, 193s, Serial No. 671,087 r 4 Claims. (01. 29-863) My invention has relation to combined valve lifters and spring compressors for. use in perform ing service operations on automobile engines, and

it consists in the novel features of construction more. fully set forth: in the specification and pointed out inthe claims; The invention is more particularly directed to what may be termed the overhead type of spring compressor in that it has its support on top of the motor block while compressing the spring preparatory to removing a valve. Because of-the manner in which this type of valve lifter is operated the frameis necessarily formed in the shape of a loop, or c, and is also referred to among me- 1 chanics as a Ctypelifter.

Because of the wide span between the point of support and theimovable seat for compressing the spring this typeof lifter heretofore has not been very successful on account of the difficulties of making the frame sufficiently strong without undue cumbrousness and excessive weight. It is the principal object of the present invention to so construct the lifter frame that it will combine strength and rigidity with light weight, and at the same time so arrange the operating parts that the lifter may be actuated with convenience and minimum effort. 1

It is a further object of the invention to embody into the tool spring compressor mechanism which shall be actuated by the same operating parts that actuate the valve lifter, and to so arrange the spring compressor that it too may be conveniently operated. In a valve lifter of this type, which is inherently bulky, the arrangement of the parts with a view to convenience and simplicity of operation is of the utmost importance in order that the tool may be practical. It is also an object of the invention to provide means for securely holding the spring while compressing the same, said means readily accommodating itself to springs of various sizes within a given range. Further and other advantages will be better apparent from a detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved valve litter and spring compressor shown applied to a motor block, which is shown in partial section; Fig.2 is a top plan of my invention; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my invention shown applied to a spring for compressing the same, the lower part of'the frame being broken away; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the invention; and Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed plan views on an enlarged scale showing how the spring holder accommodates different sizes of springs preparatory to compressing them. 1

Referring to the drawings, M represents a motor block, the valve V of which is to be removed. As is well known in the art, the valve V cannot be removed without first disconnecting the valve spring S from the valve stem V, said spring being seated in the valve seat or washer S held securely to the valve stem V by the lock L. The'function of the valve lifter is to raise the spring sufiiciently so that the lock L may be removed and thereby disengage the valve from the spring S whereupon the valve is readily lifted out of place. My improved valve lifter comprises a frame 1, shaped in the form of the letter C, said frame having a cross-section of a hollow rectangle. The specific construction of the frame and the method of obtaining the frame in the shape of a hollow rectangle is novel as far as 1am aware but is not claimed in this application as it is made-the subject of a separate application for a patent filed of even date herewith The lower end of the frame 1 carries in permanently. fixed relation a channel-shaped extremity 2 bifur' cated at its outer end so as to provide "flanged seats 3, 3 for the spring S to which the valve lifter is applied. Openings 0, o are provided in the top and bottom walls of the upper horizontal part 1' of the frame 1 and a tubular bearing 4 is securely fixed into said openings, said bearing being of substantial length and having its longitudinal axis coincident with the center point between the seats '3, 3 so that when the valve lifter is applied to the spring S and the frame, held sothat the upper portion 1' is in a horizontal position, the tubular bearing 4 will be directly in line with the valve V. The importance of the alinement of these parts will be apparent from what follows.

A square threaded screw 5 is slidablymounted in the bearing 4 and hasa handle 6 fixed to its upper end, said handle comprising spaced crossmembers 1, '7 secured together at their outer ends by suitable connectors 8, 8. The screw 5 carries a block 9 on its threaded portion, said block being internally threaded to fit the threads of the screw 5, whereby the position of the block on the screw may be adjusted by rotatingthe screw in its bearing sleeve 4 so that it may be either advanced through or withdrawn from the block 9. An operating lever 10 is pivotally connected.

on the side of the frame 1 near the juncture of the horizontal portion 1', said lever having a lug l1 projecting laterally from it through which it is mounted on a stud l2 projecting outwardly from one side of said frame. The lever '10, is held in spaced relation with the side of the frame 1 by means of suitable spacing washers .13, 13 and is confined on the stud12 by a nut 14. A pair of toggle links 15 and 16 are connected between the block 9 and the horizontal portion 1' of the frame 1, the upper link 15 having a lug 1'7 projecting from it in close proximity-with the rivet 18 which connects the links 15 and 16 together. A connecting link 19 has one end pivsiohalzstrains onthe frame 1:.

otally connected to lug 1'7 and the other end pivotally connected to the short lever arm of the lever 10: so; that on. actuating the lever 10 the dink. l9 will "transmit thelever movement to the toggle and raise and lower the block 9 to which the toggle link 16 is pivotally ermeated" It will be observed by referring to the; dotted position in Fig. 1 that the block 9 and, of course, the screw 5 are irf t-heir elevated pBsi-Q tions when the actuating lever 10 is elevated;

and that as said lever is pulled downwardly; the: screw 5 is also moved downwardly (or if the screw 5 is held in place the entire rra'memn b' moved upwardly). When the handle 10! of the.

lever 10 is in its lowermost position it lie'salr'riost entirely "within themargins; of the frame l and the' toggle. links 15? and 16:are: slightly beyond dead.- centerso that no amount-of: pressure upwardlypnthescrew 5"can"dislodge:it. The ultimatedownwardmovementof the-lever l0.-is obi-- tained when 'theconnecting link-"19 comes into abutting relation=with edged-l of the lug, 11 (as showrnd'ot-ted' in-=1i'ig .xl).:-.v x

From. the foregoing it should be apparent :that the arrangement of the-actuating parts, includ ings the position of thehandle 10 of.v lever 10; when? said. lever: has been: movedyto its full extenirdownwardly, greatly facilitates the operation ofrthe-tool by'themechanic. For. instance,.-he may hold-the-frame 'ITWith his right hand, ineluding; in :hiS grip; the 1 handle 105 while his 1 lei t handiis free to removethe lockwhwhich releases the: valve-V- so that itmaybe lifted out of the blockf It should also'loe:apparentthat-when the leverl0 approaches -itsr lowermost. position. the

stressesronthe: tool aregreatest and the force appliedtto I the 'handlecomes almostdirectly opposite the' 'lower end-of screw 5' (the point of anchorage)r, reducingl'to a=rninimum" any tor- As heretof ore stated; ,--my improvedi valve lifter also embodies a spring compressor, which. in chides the same parts that serve as. the operatin mechanism forthewalve lifter: At the front of A the horizontalcomponent- 1 of the immense bracket 22,;theupper surf-ace23 of which liesfin a; planer about midway-"between the top; and. pots tomiwallsof the component; l and' areotangular post 24 projects upwardly fromlthe surface 23 in spaced-relation withr-theforward end 25.- of component 1 The bracket; 2-2-serves asa support for thespringrSthat-is--to lee-compressed, the spring being: confinedtin: the space j between: the. post. 24 andithelforward: end 25 of: frame component 1" 4 Byreferring towFigs.-5 and" 6 -it will be seen. that the dimensions-of -thefipost 24 and the spacing; of the post from the-end-25 are such that whether a largeior small spring -is- -to--be compressed the spring is closely, confined: between; threepoints', i'. e.* edges e; e *of-the p'ost and the surface. 25 0f thecframe. IllTlS'TPOSSiblB tofix these dimensions so thattthe" confinement of anysize spring will be secure because-in the smaller sized springs the shorten radius-fills up the space. between the pos andsframe; whilein ;the larger sized springs. the greater thiclcness ofvthe spring coilsserves to fill the' 'spaoe. After'the-operator, has passed the spring S1 over the post 2% he adjusts the position of the screw 5-so thatthe. cross-armswill engage the springswhen'thexhandlelo is raisedwhereupon ther'movem'entoi? the handle downwardly forces the springs coils? togetherfiFig li) The. tool may now be' -hel'd imthe righthandwhich, as above explained, can grip the handle 10' together with the frame 1 and suitable clips C may be placed o-n -the-spring with-the left handto holditin its compressedfstate. so that itmay be "removed froni the tool and subsequently put in place in the valve assembly.

*Having described my invention, I claim:

L.In a. combined valve lifter and spring comprs'sori a handle fi'ame, a socket disposed transversely at one end of said frame, a member slidingly mounted in said socket for coaction with the frame, a. block adjustably mounted on said member? springretaining means on the end of therframe beyond and adjacent to said socket, a cross-arm on one end of the sliding member, and means connected between. the" saidblock and frame for moving the" sliding member back. and forth through the" socket, said. spring: retaining: means comprising a5 seating surface and" confiniing element's perpendicular" to" saidrr'surfacerand' arranged to contact thespringf'coilsat three' points.

2;- In a; combined'rvalverlifter'andsspringz compress'or; a handle. frame; a socketfdisposed' transe verselyat one endriot sai'diframe; armember: slid ins-1y mounted in. said' socket: for. coaction: with the frame, a: block adjustably mouhted on-said member, andia series of: actuating: levers-"pivot ally mounted on said frame. at. the'fside thereof, said actuating levers comprising a toggle con".- n'ect'ed to the'i frame: at one: end and to 1 the: block at the other', a= handle lever havingia fulcrum connected "to the frame at: a point horizontally spaced from the socket' end. thereof, and-:a link connected. at one end tO th innEI 6ndiOf the han dle lever '-in close" proximity torsaidr fulcrum, said link being connected at' the: otherend near the joint of: the toggle;

3. ln -a combined valve lifter'and springpcompressor ahandIe-frameI a socketdisposed-ftrans, versely: at one end' or: said' frame, a' member slid ingly mounted in said socket fon-co'action. with the-frame,- a blocki adjustably mounted on: said member, and a. semester actuating levers: pivotally 'mount'ed 'on' said. frame 'at the sidethereof, said actuating leverscomprising: a. toggle connected to the frame? at? one endandto theblock at" the other, a: handle lever'having a fulcrum connected totheframe'at': a point horizontally sjaacz-zdf-roni the socket endlthereof; a link connected' at one end tothe innerend of: the handle lever in close proximity-to saidrfulcrum; saidlink being connected at the other "endnear the joint of the toggle; and the fulcrum andthev linkcon;- n'ection with the handle being" in linewith the link when thehandle is raised;

4. Ina" combined valve lifter and'spri'ng'compressor; a handl'e frame, a; socket'disposed trans versel'y atone end of saidframe, a member'slid; ingly mounted in said socket'for' co'action: with the frame; a block ad'justably' mounted' orr "said member, spring retaining meanson theTend f the 'fr'ame'beyond andadjacentto said socket, a cross-arm on" one end" of the slidingimember; .arid means connected between the said block: and framefor movingthe' sliding member." back and forth through the socket, said spring retaining means comprisinga seating surface and confinmg elements perpendicular to said surface and spaced to contact the coils of varying sizes of springs'at three points.

JOSEPH SUNNEN. 

